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Gov. Doyle commends UW Colleges and UW-Extension for the Adult Student Initiative
On Feb. 28, 2008, Gov. Jim Doyle joined UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson and UW System President Kevin Reilly at UW-Fox Valley to announce progress in the UW Colleges' and UW-Extension's Adult Student Initiative. The ASI creates opportunities for more Wisconsin adults to start, continue or complete a bachelor's degree. Those speaking at the news conference included (l to r) UW-Fox Valley CEO/Dean Jim Perry; Reilly; Patti Ziehl, a former UW-Fox Valley student who is currently completing her bachelor's degree at UW-Oshkosh; Doyle; Wilson; and Tom Boldt, CEO of The Boldt Company.
Photo by Wm. Glasheen
Gov. Jim Doyle commended UW Colleges and UW-Extension for opening the door to college degrees for more Wisconsin's adults at a news conference on Feb. 28, 2008, at the UW-Fox Valley in Menasha.
Doyle, UW System President Kevin Reilly, UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson, UW-Fox Valley Campus Executive Officer/Dean Jim Perry and UW adult student Patricia Ziehl addressed members of the print and broadcast media as well as nearly 150 community, regional and state leaders about the importance and progress of the UW Adult Student Initiative (ASI).
Increasing the number of college graduates
The governor joined Reilly in recognizing the efforts of the UW Colleges and the UW-Extension to increase the number of college graduates in the state and to announce the next steps for the ASI. The goal of the ASI, which will receive $2.5 million in state funding on July 1, is to build on the current work of the UW Colleges and UW-Extension to further connect adult learners to UW associate and baccalaureate degrees.
"We thank the governor and the legislature for their trust in the UW Colleges and the UW-Extension as we strive to provide maximum access to educational opportunities," Chancellor Wilson said. "Looking towards the future, we intend to reach into every nook and cranny of the state to ensure all Wisconsin residents have the chance to go to college and get a degree no matter what their life circumstances are."
$2.5 million for additional student support
The UW Colleges and UW-Extension have a history of providing access and support to learners of all ages and from all backgrounds. The new funds for the ASI will generate additional support by:
- exploring credit for prior learning activities
- creating more accelerated courses online and in the classroom
- developing more online courses
- making more bachelor's degrees available online
- offering more services to help adult students succeed in college
The UW Colleges provides the "best start" toward a bachelor's degree by offering the associate degree in arts and science. The 13 UW Colleges campuses help students earn their degree through a variety of convenient and cost-effective options, including day and evening classes, accelerated courses and campus-based collaborative bachelor's degree programs. (At this time not all campuses offer all of these options.)
Current online bachelor's degrees
The UW-Extension is increasing access to degrees by providing incentives for the UW four-year campuses to put upper-division courses online, enabling adults to continue or complete work on their bachelor's degree where they live and work. Some of the bachelor's degrees that can be completed online include:
- Organizational administration
- Criminal justice
- Information systems and project management
- Human services
- Fire science and emergency response management
- Community education with an emphasis in child care
UW-Extension's Division of Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning has been instrumental in assisting the 26 UW campuses with instructional design and development, faculty development, and learner-services expertise in support of online courses and degrees.
Growing awareness of education options
UW-Fox Valley adult student coordinator Tammy Brunette says that the ASI news conference has helped increase interest in earning a degree. "Prospective students are asking me, 'How can I enroll?' or 'How many of my credits will be applicable if I enroll?' The UWin program has also helped raise awareness of the ASI program within our community. Overall, the ASI has really helped students become more aware of their options."
For more information:
uwin@learn.uwsa.edu
(866) 505-UWIN (8946)
uwin.wisconsin.edu/
By Dave Hager, director, university relations, UW-Fox Valley